TILDEN – The McMullen County Livestock Show auction Saturday brought in $275,600, a huge increase over the $192,150 in purchases at last year’s auction.

Before the auction, McMullen County Fair Association President Sheila Kuenstler said she was optimistic that the sale would be successful because of the Eagle Ford Shale boom.

She was right.

The grand champion steer, raised by Ashley Lewis, sold for $10,000, $1,500 more than last year’s grand champion steer.

It was bought by Slate Construction and Quintanilla Management Co.

The money the 96 animals sold for goes back to the kids who raised the animals.

“Hopefully, they’re putting this money back to pay for their (college) education,” said Dale Patterson, who coordinated the auction.

He said the judges, who often judge larger shows, praised the McMullen County kids.

“The judges commented several times about the good quality of the animals and the quality of the students showing the animals.”

The grand champion swine, raised by Tyler Gunter, sold for $8,500 and was bought by the Schoolhouse Syndicate, the San Miguel Syndicate, the Atascosa Syndicate, Chesapeake Energy and Atascosa National Bank.

Joaquin Cavazos raised the grand champion lamb, which was bought by John Barnes Contracting for $8,000.